EMPLOYMENT BEST LARGE BUSINESS (NON-MANUFACTURER)
BELL BANK 920 Lake Avenue | Detroit Lakes Phone: 218-844-3000 | Website: www.bell.bank Bell Bank opened in Fargo in 1966 as State Bank of Fargo. We first opened as a mortgage office in Detroit Lakes in 2001 and opened a full-service branch in 2005. You’ll find us centrally located downtown near Washington Square Mall. Many of our customers are business, commercial, retail, mortgage and agricultural customers from the lakes area. Bell Bank employs 20 in our Detroit Lakes office. Like many others, you might find your home away from home at our Detroit Lakes branch – thanks to our unequaled
service combined with a family atmosphere. That’s something you’ll experience for yourself when you stop by. Another thing you’ll discover is we’re very community-minded. We love to participate in local parades, festivals and other special events through sponsorships and employee volunteering. Our employees give where they feel it’s needed most, in fact, since 2008, Bell Bank’s unique pay is part of why Bell was named to the Fortune list of America’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2022, and last year was named one of 100 Companies That Care by People magazine. We’re a place where people matter, and results matter. That’s the Bell difference. Even as we’ve grown to become one of the country’s largest family and employee-owned banks, we still embrace a simple, yet powerful bottom line: “Happy employees. Happy customers.”
BEST BOSS
With this as our mission, core values of family, unequaled service and giving back are at the heart of what we do. Employees and customers alike are treated like family. We’re a place where people matter and results matter. That’s the Bell difference. Bell Bank’s majority owners are the Snortland and Solberg families, including Julie Snortland, Laura Snortland Fairfield, Richard Solberg (chairman of the board) and Michael Solberg (president and CEO). Bell Bank’s employees are also stewards of the company through Bell’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Bell Bank feels like family — it’s a place where people get to know you by name, treat you right, and make decisions 2ND PELICAN PLACE in your best interest.
LANDING
BEST SMALL BUSINESS
STEVE DAGGETT
SUNLITE BAR & GRILL
Midwest Bank 613 Highway 10 East | Detroit Lakes, MN 56502 Phone: 218-847-4771 | Website: midwestbank.net
See page 22 for more information about Sunlite Bar & Grill.
Steve Daggett has been President and CEO of Midwest Bank for the past 26 years. Although the banking business has changed over the years, Daggett has not. Each day, he brings a positive energy to the workplace as he smiles and greets employees. He promotes teamwork by making each employee feel important and their contributions appreciated. An employee says, “Leading by example is what makes Mr. Daggett such a great leader. Personally, this encourages me to do the same thing and makes coming to work each and every day an enjoyable experience.” Daggett genuinely cares about the employees of Midwest Bank. He treats employees like family, not just a number, and in turn, employees do the same with customers. He makes a point to personally visit all Midwest Bank branches, getting to know staff. He, along with management, is mindful of not only looking out for the best interest of Midwest Bank but also how it will affect customers along with employees and their families. Daggett embraces a culture of hard work while also supporting a flexible work environment. He encourages employees to attend their kids’ and grandkids’ school and sporting events and provides time off when situations make it more important to be with family than at work. He brings fun into the workplace with his goofy sense of humor, dance moves, awesome cartwheels, ability to put an entire piece of cake in his mouth and by not being afraid to make fun of himself. At staff meetings, Daggett is like a kid in a candy store, sharing endless banking financial ratios and numbers. He gets even more excited to share letters, cards, social media comments and emails from happy customers about exceptional service they’ve received from Midwest Bank employees. He encourages employees to give back through volunteering efforts. He leads by example with his involvement as a Detroit Mountain Recreation Area Board member, member of the Noon Rotary Club, Music on the Mountain chair, Salvation Army Red Kettle volunteer, Becker County Food Pantry volunteer. He was formerly chair of the Minnesota Bankers Association (MBA) and currently volunteers on numerous MBA committees and is a DLCCC board member and participates in numerous other community volunteer opportunities. “I feel so fortunate to work with the co-workers I do. They are a tremendous group of professionals who exceed my expectations. I want to thank them and the community for this honor” says Daggett. 2ND PLACE
HJ GERDES Sunlite Bar & Grill
30 | 2022 Best of the Lakes Area — Readers’ Choice Awards
2ND PLACE
MIDWEST BANK
2022
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